Washington lawmaker proposes moving wolves

[bobcat]

The wolf plan is not the deciding factor in whether wolves will be on the west side or not. The wolves will decide that. If they get here on their own and the habitat is such that they can survive, and multiply, then we'll have a wolf population over here. If not, then we won't. In my opinion, the wolf plan is irrelevant.

[kentrek]

If people were pro wolf, they would be in favor of wolves on the west side.  No?   

I've talked to people that love that wolfs are back and hate the idea or hunting them but when asked about  wolves in there back yard making mince meat of there horse the tone usually changes in the conversation

I don't think anybody truly wants to live with wolves, they are just so out of tune with nature they don't understand the implications of these pro wolf actions

[bearpaw]

Also, the scope of the impact of wolves is being exaggerated in some instances.  I would swear there is not a child, pet, cow, or deer to be found in the entire NE corner of WA the way some folks talk because the wolves have "saurated" the area and killed everything.

Yes we do have wolves which are impacting certain areas in NE WA.

But I think your comment is a bit of an exaggeration.

[pianoman9701]

 

[PA BEN]

The wolf plan is not the deciding factor in whether wolves will be on the west side or not. The wolves will decide that. If they get here on their own and the habitat is such that they can survive, and multiply, then we'll have a wolf population over here. If not, then we won't. In my opinion, the wolf plan is irrelevant.

The wolf plan is relevant, we will be over run by wolves before we can control them by hunting. The plan needs to be changed to support control in areas with high numbers of wolves. Not when they migrate to the rest of this state.

[bobcat]

The wolf plan is not the deciding factor in whether wolves will be on the west side or not. The wolves will decide that. If they get here on their own and the habitat is such that they can survive, and multiply, then we'll have a wolf population over here. If not, then we won't. In my opinion, the wolf plan is irrelevant.

The wolf plan is relevant, we will be over run by wolves before we can control them by hunting. The plan needs to be changed to support control in areas with high numbers of wolves. Not when they migrate to the rest of this state.

The reason I don't agree with that is because I don't think hunting will have a significant effect on wolf populations.

[JimmyHoffa]

The wolf plan is not the deciding factor in whether wolves will be on the west side or not. The wolves will decide that. If they get here on their own and the habitat is such that they can survive, and multiply, then we'll have a wolf population over here. If not, then we won't. In my opinion, the wolf plan is irrelevant.

The wolf plan is relevant, we will be over run by wolves before we can control them by hunting. The plan needs to be changed to support control in areas with high numbers of wolves. Not when they migrate to the rest of this state.

The reason I don't agree with that is because I don't think hunting will have a significant effect on wolf populations.

Well, depending on the season/quota it might not need to have a major effect on population if it can affect behavior.  Animals can get conditioned to act a certain way by the way they are trained.  Example:  I see coyotes in the neighborhood and they will look at me and kind of go on their business, when I see coyotes out in the live fire areas they take off immediately and avoid at all costs.  I don't know if the change in wolf behavior from hunting will yield any improvements, though.

[huntnphool]

The wolf plan is not the deciding factor in whether wolves will be on the west side or not. The wolves will decide that. If they get here on their own and the habitat is such that they can survive, and multiply, then we'll have a wolf population over here. If not, then we won't. In my opinion, the wolf plan is irrelevant.

The wolf plan is relevant, we will be over run by wolves before we can control them by hunting. The plan needs to be changed to support control in areas with high numbers of wolves. Not when they migrate to the rest of this state.

 Only issue with this statement Pa Ben is evidence/testimony has shown that wolves can not be "controlled" by hunting, hunting is not a effective means to control them.

[idahohuntr]

Also, the scope of the impact of wolves is being exaggerated in some instances.  I would swear there is not a child, pet, cow, or deer to be found in the entire NE corner of WA the way some folks talk because the wolves have "saurated" the area and killed everything.

Yes we do have wolves which are impacting certain areas in NE WA.

But I think your comment is a bit of an exaggeration.

Please show me where I made a claim that many members want all wolves eliminated...because I have said no such thing.  But what an interesting topic you bring up about inaccurate exaggeration of other peoples comments.  Is it quite a bit different than accurate exaggerations of other peoples comments? 

[PA BEN]

The wolf plan is not the deciding factor in whether wolves will be on the west side or not. The wolves will decide that. If they get here on their own and the habitat is such that they can survive, and multiply, then we'll have a wolf population over here. If not, then we won't. In my opinion, the wolf plan is irrelevant.

The wolf plan is relevant, we will be over run by wolves before we can control them by hunting. The plan needs to be changed to support control in areas with high numbers of wolves. Not when they migrate to the rest of this state.

 Only issue with this statement Pa Ben is evidence/testimony has shown that wolves can not be "controlled" by hunting, hunting is not a effective means to control them.

The statement was made that the plan "is irrelevant". The State is following a flawed plan right now and are going to stick to it unless it is changed to manage wolves. Hunting is just one of many management tools that should be in a plan. phool you have seen first hand what wildlife/hunting is like in the 49 area. Over the last few years the wolves have moved into all of those you hunted for your Washington moose and they are making a foothold. Cottonwood just East of town has at least 3, 2 with collars not more than a mile or so from town. It's bye, bye moose and the small amount of elk will be gone. I had one hollowing above my house last February, the northern tip of the Huckleberry pack is not far to the south of my house. Yes we have a lot of skin in the game here. This "not in my backyard attitude has to stop" and the westsiders need to jump in and help. At the Colville wolf meeting Sen. Dansel said he was going to introduce legislation to allow counties to manage the wildlife in their own Counties and kick out WDFW. A lot of westsiders jumped in and side counties can't do that, the game animals belong to us all. I hear comments about turkey hunting and the amount of over the counter tags", "too many hens are being taken" so on and so on. Wolves will eat a turkey too. Everybody wants to come over and hunt whitetails, turkeys, moose, elk but no one wants to help in the fight. I applaud the young man who went to the westside wolf meeting and stood up for wildlife/hunting.   

[idahohuntr]

If the moose will go "bye bye", why is the population increasing to the point that wdfw is increasing tags 20% this year in NE wa? 

Managing wildlife and hunting is expensive, challenging, and unappreciated.  Individual county management is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard of...I assume it was another bill with no intention of actually passing? 

The wolf plan is not the deciding factor in whether wolves will be on the west side or not. The wolves will decide that. If they get here on their own and the habitat is such that they can survive, and multiply, then we'll have a wolf population over here. If not, then we won't. In my opinion, the wolf plan is irrelevant.

The wolf plan is relevant, we will be over run by wolves before we can control them by hunting. The plan needs to be changed to support control in areas with high numbers of wolves. Not when they migrate to the rest of this state.

 Only issue with this statement Pa Ben is evidence/testimony has shown that wolves can not be "controlled" by hunting, hunting is not a effective means to control them.

The statement was made that the plan "is irrelevant". The State is following a flawed plan right now and are going to stick to it unless it is changed to manage wolves. Hunting is just one of many management tools that should be in a plan. phool you have seen first hand what wildlife/hunting is like in the 49 area. Over the last few years the wolves have moved into all of those you hunted for your Washington moose and they are making a foothold. Cottonwood just East of town has at least 3, 2 with collars not more than a mile or so from town. It's bye, bye moose and the small amount of elk will be gone. I had one hollowing above my house last February, the northern tip of the Huckleberry pack is not far to the south of my house. Yes we have a lot of skin in the game here. This "not in my backyard attitude has to stop" and the westsiders need to jump in and help. At the Colville wolf meeting Sen. Dansel said he was going to introduce legislation to allow counties to manage the wildlife in their own Counties and kick out WDFW. A lot of westsiders jumped in and side counties can't do that, the game animals belong to us all. I hear comments about turkey hunting and the amount of over the counter tags", "too many hens are being taken" so on and so on. Wolves will eat a turkey too. Everybody wants to come over and hunt whitetails, turkeys, moose, elk but no one wants to help in the fight. I applaud the young man who went to the westside wolf meeting and stood up for wildlife/hunting.

[mfswallace]

Gotta agree, individual counties managing wildlife doesn't seem like it would be a good plan. With migration and wintering ranges encompassing hundreds of miles how would accurate information on herds be obtained? Animals that live and regularly move between county borders could end up being counted multiple times....

I know money is the driving force so finding ways to spend responsibly and generate more revenue to increase more accurate counts should be the focus

[bearpaw]

On the other hand it could backfire, they could be relocated, nothing could change, and then the argument of "easy for people without skin in the game" argument dies.

Careful what you wish for.

   Where do some of these guys get their logic, what gamble? When wolves move in livestock/pets get eaten!

You're betting that people will run to the hills demanding an all out season over night once some wolves get relocated. Good luck with that.

Incorrect:
I have never made the highlighted statement, you are trying to put words in my mouth! 

Northeast Washington has howled about cougars since the hound ban and to date this state has not voted to lift it...and cougars are on boths sides of the mountains so the "skin in the game" argument holds little weight with people.

Misleading Comment:
Actually the legislature implemented a 5 year public safety cougar season as a result of rural cougar attacks.

I just think you guys underestimate peoples' tolerance for predators this side of the mountains.

[bearpaw]

KFH, Bearpaw, Ridgerat and anyone else, as hunters why do you want more wolves in this state? This is completely illogical to me.

I think you are misunderstanding some comments. I can't speak for the others but I don't think any one of us wants more wolves in WA, I am suggesting that the wolves already existing in WA be spread across all three wolf zones rather than wolves being left unmanaged in NE WA for an undetermined amount of time. If the wolf plan was changed whereby management in the NE wasn't determined by how soon wolves move into all the other zones I wouldn't have this concern at all. But the plan is written so that management in the NE is dependent on wolves being established in all three wolf zones. The only chance we have for management in the NE is for at least 3 BP's to be raising pups in each of the three wolf zones for 3 consecutive years.

[Woodchuck]